Golf bag supporting means



I Oct. 23, 1934. G, SCHUTES 1,978,230

I GOLF BAG SUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 J6 .30 6 I n '2 0 g s I 22 14 I 20 .32 5a 62 36 w 5 20 l w w Jmy rm ,Gorye FJc/ZJJZZS v 5 I y W 0a. 23, 1934. G F; S H TES r r I 1,978,230

GOLF BAG SUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 17, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i V 64 l a 60 If Ewen/Z? myeifiaij 1934- G. F. scHuTEs GOLF BAG SUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 17, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 m 4J w 3 Wm m H H L. Jf zw i J L a i W 0 WW4 V J x Q 2 mm 0% aw (1| 1 1/ M Wfi/ (NW N 6 I 6 m l atented Oct. 23, 1934 PATENT oFFicE GOLF BAG SUPPORTING MEANS 'George F. Schutes, Valparaiso, Ind. Application June 17, 1930, Serial No. 461,722

11 Claims. (Cl. 150-15) UNITED STATES My invention relates to golf bag supporting golfer, as when the golfer lays his golf bag aside for the purpose of striking a golf ball.

The golf bag now in common use is so constructed that it will not stand in an upright position and must be laid upon itsside. This means that when a golfer is playing a game of golf and carrying his own golf bag, he must be continually stooping over to place the bag upon the ground for thepurpose of taking a stroke and again bending over to pick up his bag and carry it along the fairway. This continual bending over is extremely inconvenient and tiresome and detracts much from the pleasure of the game. It

is an object of my invention to provide golf bag supporting means which will eliminate this bending by providing a golf bag which will stand in an upright position.

Another object of my invention is to provide golf bag supporting means which is light, simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and durable in use.

Another object is to provide golf bag supporting means which will automatically assume operative position upon lowering of the golf bag and will automatically return to retracted position upon raising the golf bag; whereby the supportmg means will not interfere with carrying the golf bag in the usual manner. 7

Another object is to provide golf bag supporting means which is equally adapted to form an integral part of a golf bag as manufactured or an attachment adapted to be secured to the conventional form of golf bags now in use.

Another object is to provide golf bag supporting means which can be made in a single size and applied to different sizes of golf bags.

Another object is to provide golf bag supporting means wherein the automatic operation can be supplemented by manual operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Referring to the drawings, I have shown in Fig. l a conventional golf bag with my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line v 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation with parts cut away to? show the interior construction;

Fig. 4. is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view showing the mechanism in the 5 upper part of Fig. 3 in a different position;

shape, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7, and held Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-45 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 shows the mechanism in the upper part of Fig; 4 in a different position;

Fig. 8 is: a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is astill further modification.

In the drawings I have shown a conventional golf bag 12 provided with the usual handle 14 and shoulder strap 16. The conventional golf bag is ordinarily provided with a metal sleeve 18 at its upper end or mouth and to this I attach a housing 20 in any conventional or desired manner. In the particular instance shown in the drawings the housing 26 is provided with an arcuate portion 22 having suitable openings for screws 24 which extend through the leather 26 and metal sleeve 18 and screw into an inner bracing mem ber 28. The screws 24 may be provided with the usual lock-nuts or, as an alternative construction, the central portion of the bracing member 28' may be made thinner, as shown in the drawings, and of sufiicient resiliency so that the bracing member can be made on an arc of smaller radius than the radius ofthe golf bag, whereby the member 28 will be placed under tension when drawn firmly against the interior of the bag 12 by the screws 24, thus creating an axial pull on the screws 24 which will prevent unscrewing thereof and eliminate the necessity of the usual lock-nuts.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the arcuate portion 22 of the housing 20- has a greater radius than the bag 12 and washers 30 are inserted between the arcuate portion 22 and the leather 26 of the bag 50 12. The washers 30 may be of metal, rubber, fiber, or other suitable material, and by using Washers of different thicknesses or varying numbers of thin washers, it is possible to use the same size housing 20 with golf bags of different diameters.

It is to be understood that the particular mode of attaching the housing 20 to the golf bag which I have shown in the drawings is not the only mode of attachment which can be used, and any 1" other suitable means of attachment may be substituted therefor.

In the housing 20 is a carrier bar 32 pivotally mounted in bearing members 84, preferably of T in place by bolts 36. Legs 38 are pivotally mounted on carrier bar 32 by pivots 40 Legs 38 extend substantially the full length of. the golf bag when in their retracted position and in the drawings I have illustrated these legs as round since this 110,

' a transverse bar 50.

shape gives the greatest strength with the least weight. It is to be understood that these legs may be made of wood, metal, or other suitable material, and are preferably so shaped as to give the greatest strength with the least weight.

The upper ends of the legs 38 are preferably flattened, as indicated at 42, and extend laterally to provide ends 44 carrying pins 46. The pins 46 extend through slightly elongated slots 48 in The length of the slots 48 determines the angle through which the legs 38 can be rotated about their pivots and therefore the slots 48 determine the amount of spreading of the legs 38.

The bar 50 has a centrally located upward projection 52 having a reduced portion extending through a slot 54 in the forwardly extending upper end 56 of the actuating rod or actuator 58, whereby the bar 50 will follow any vertical movement of the actuator 58. The lower end of the actuator 58 passes through a guide 60 which may be attached to the lower part of the golf bag in any suitable manner and is herein illustrated as bolted to the metal bottom commonly provided in the conventional golf bag. When the golf bag ing means is as follows:

When the golf bag is being carried the legs 38 are in the retracted position illustrated in Fig. 3, and in this position the legs 38 are close together and rest against the outer face of the actuator 58 or the adjacent parts of the golf bag. The legs 38 are held in this position by the metal strips 62 carried by the forward extension 56 of the actuator 58 and which rest upon the upper ends of the legs 38 just over the pins 46. The strips 62 are preferably so formed that they carry the weight of the actuator 58 when the bag 12 is being carried, and the weight of the actuator 58 thus resting on the out-turned ends 44 of the legs 38 serves to hold these legs in the completely retracted position wherein they are entirely out of the way and in nowise interfere with the golfer who is carrying the golf bag.

I, of course, contemplate that the parts of my golf bag supporting means are preferably made as light as possible in order to reduce the weight carried by the golfer, and in some instances the weight of the actuator 58 may be insufficient to retain the legs 38 in fully retracted position under all conditions. In some instances I therefore provide a tension spring 64 connecting the actuator 58 with the guide 60 or some other suitable part of the golf bag, and this spring 64 00- operates with the weight of the actuator 58 in holding the legs 38 in retracted position.

When the golfer desires to place the bag upon the ground he simply grasps either the handle 14 or the upper part of the shoulder strap 16 in the usual manner, and lowers the bag to the ground.

When the bag is. so held it will assume an inclined position with the lower end of the actuator 58 nearest the ground and as the bag is lowered to the ground the lower end of the actuator first contacts with the ground and further downward movement of the actuator is thereby arrested. The bag continues to descend until the lower end of the bag rests upon the ground and this descent of the bag after the descent of the actuator 58 has been arrested creates a relative vertical sliding movement between the actuator and the bag 12. As soon as the downward movement of the actuator 58 is arrested by contact with the ground further downward movement of the bar 50 is also arrested, whereas the housing 20 and carrier 32 pivotally mounted therein, continue to descend with the golf bag 12. This relative movement between the carrier 32 and the bar 50 causes the carrier 32 to swing on its pivot, thus swinging the legs 38 away from the golf bag, and at the same time the legs 38 swing. about their pivots 40 and are separated, whereupon they assume the position shown in Fig. 1 and support the golf bag in a substantially upright position.

After the golfer has taken his stroke he returns his golf club to the bag 12 and simply picks up the bag by either the handle 14 or strap 16, in the usual manner, and continues down the course. As soon as the golf bag is lifted from the ground the weight of the actuator 58, with or without the assistance of the spring 64, causes the actuator 58 to slide downwardly relative to the bag 12 until the actuator 58 assumes its normal position with its lower end projecting beyond the lower end of the golf bag. This return movement of the actuator 58 to normal position returns the legs 38 to retracted position wherein they are entirely out of the way.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the lower end of the actuator 58 is turned over, as indicated at 66, or otherwise enlarged, so that it will not dig into the turf of the golf course when the golf bag is rested upon the ground. I also preferably form the lower end of the actuator 58 as aseparate piece 68 which is connected with the main part of the actuator by a suitable thumb-screw 70. In Figs. 3 and 4 the separate end piece 68 is shown in normal active position. When it is desired to eliminate the automatic operation of my golf bag supporting means, as

when the golf bag is placed in a locker, the

thumb-screw 70 may be loosened, the separate piece 68 slid upwardly, and the thumb-screw then screwed into the opening 72 to hold the piece 68 in retracted position and thereby render the automatic feature of my golf bag supporting means inoperative.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a modified form of the device wherein the upper end of the actuator 58' is provided with a rack 74 which cooperates with a pinion 76 rotatably mounted in s a housing 20' upon a stud 78. Beveled gears 80 rotate with the pinion 76 and mesh with suitable gears 82 formed on the upper ends of legs 38 and adapted to rotate about inclined axes formed by bearing studs 84. The operation of this form of my invention is generally the same as that of the modification shown in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, and need not be described in detail.

of the thumb button 90. This spring 92 will tend to return the parts to normal position and may either supplement or entirely displace the spring 64.

I contemplate that the manual control mechanism shown in Fig. 10 would be provided mainly In the further modification shown in Fig. 10 I to; I

' 9.1 now I ilas a supplemental means of actuating my golf bag supporting mechanism which could be used in those rare instances where it was desired to stand the golf bag on soft ground which would offer insufficient resistance to the lower end of the actuator to operate the supporting mechanism automatically. Under some special circumstances it may be desired to eliminate the automatic feature of my mechanism entirely and to rely solely upon manual operation thereof.

Having thus illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular mechanism illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the. specification but that my invention may take various forms and that my protection is limited solely by the following claims, wherein I claim:

1. In golf bag supporting means of the class described the combination of a housing, a carrier pivotally mounted therein, legs pivotally mounted on said carrier, said legs having a retracted position and an extended position, and an actuator for moving said legs from one position tothe other.

2. In golf bag supporting means of the class described, the combination of a housing, a carrier pivotally mounted therein, legs pivotally mounted on said carrier and movable from retracted to extended position and from extended position to retracted position, a pin carried by each leg, a bar having slots therein for receiving said pins, and an actuator connected to said bar for moving said legs from one position to the other.

3. In golf bag supporting means of the class described, the combination of a housing, a carrier pivotally mounted therein, legs pivotally mounted on said carrier, a pin secured to each leg, a bar having slots for receiving said pins, and an actuator movable relatively to said housing for shifting said legs from one position to another.

4. In golf bag supporting means of the class described, the combination of a pivoted carrier, a golf bag, a bracket rigid with said bag and providing bearings for said carrier, legs mounted on said carrier, means operated by the weight of the golf bag for moving said legs from retracted to extended position, and resilient means for returning said legs from extended to retracted position.

5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a housing, legs pivotally mounted therein, an actuator for moving said legs from retracted to extended position, a pinion rotatably mounted in said housing, means on said actuator for actuating said pinion, and a separate gear interconnecting said pinion with each of said legs.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a golf bag, a part secured thereto, a carrier member movably mounted on said part, legs mounted on said carrier member and movable relative thereto, means extending below said golf bag for swinging said legs to supporting position, and means for returning said legs to retracted position.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a golf bag, a carrier member having pivot means lying in a plane substantially tangential to the adjacent part of said bag, legs movable relative to said carrier member and adapted to be swung between retracted and extended positions, an actuator rod extending beneath said golf bag and having a part adjacent said carrier member and lying in a plane spaced outwardly beyond said pivot means, and means connecting said part with said carrier member and legs.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a bracket, a member mounted therein for oscillation about its axis, supporting legs movably mounted within said bracket to swing in planes angularly intersecting said axis, means connecting said legs and said member, and an actuator for oscillating said member about its axis thereby to swing said legs to supporting position.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a housing adapted for attachment to a golf bag, a member pivotally mounted therein for oscillation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of said bag, supporting legs movably mounted within said housing to swing in planes angularly intersecting the axis of said member, means connecting said legs and said member, an actuator for oscillating said member about its axis thereby to swing said legs to bag supporting position, said actuator slidable in a plane parallel to the axis of said bag and always maintaining said parallel relationship thereto, and spring means for holding said actuator in a predetermined position.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a golf bag, a bracket attached thereto, a carrier member pivoted to said bracket, said pivot having an axis perpendicular to the axis of said bag, a pair of legs pivotally mounted on said carrier and adapted for swinging away from said bag and from each other to hold said bag in a substantially upright position, said legs having oppositely directed laterally projecting upper ends, means for guiding said ends, and an actuator for controlling the positions assumed by said legs, said actuator slidable in a plane parallel to the axis of said bag and always maintaining said parallel relationship with said axis.

11. In a device of the class described, a golf bag, a bracket attached thereto, a carrier member pivoted to said bracket, said pivot having a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of said bag, a pair of legs pivotally mounted on said carrier and adapted normally to lie close against said bag, said legs having oppositely-directed, laterally-projecting upper ends and being capable of swinging away from said bag and from each other to hold said bag in a substantially upright position, means for guiding said ends, an actuator for controlling the positions assumed by said legs, said actuator being slidable and extending along said bag and projecting below the bottom thereof whereby said actuator is operated to swing said legs away from said bag and from each other to hold said bag in a substantially upright position when said bag is lowered into contact with the ground.

GEORGE F. SCHUTES. 

